Bikepacking Europe

Developed by Cycling UK using existing and newly negotiated off-road trails, the ~750-mile Great North Trail runs from the southern Peak District to the tip of Scotland as part of the first official Land’s End to John O’Groats off-road route. It is not designed to be the easiest, most direct or fastest route, but one that inspires and invigorates, whilst providing stunning scenery, good riding, and plenty of adventure.

The Norwich Overnighter runs from medieval Norwich through the verdant Wensum Valley and the northern Broads to the classic British seaside resort of Great Yarmouth. The route follows disused railway lines, bridleways, and quiet country roads. Stop off at pubs, markets, restaurants and cafés to refuel, and visit iconic nature reserves and historical gems.

A weekend bikepacking loop in the Swiss region of Emmental, famous for its cheese and green hills, the Emmental route leads riders through seemingly remote forests, small villages with traditional farmhouse architecture, and touches a small part of the Berner Oberland. Along the way are endless views of the famous Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau peaks...

Surrounded by the spectacular mountains of Marche region, Monti Sibillini National Park offers a 3-4 day bikepacking loop around one of the most impressive and spectacular massifs on the Italian peninsula. The route follows gravel roads and singletrack trails through enchanting and timeless landscapes where many myths and medieval legends began...

A mixed terrain bikepacking loop through Abruzzo, Italy, an incredibly diverse region set amongst the spectacular Apennines mountains. This never-ending series of gravel doubletrack, stunning landscapes, delicious food and medieval villages will lead you into the “wolf’s lair” to discover the wild side of Abruzzo.

The Lake District National Park promises some of the most dramatic mountainscapes in England… and perhaps the very best in old school mountain biking too. The Lakeland 200 is a multi-day loop that offers a broad overview of the whole area, taking in such classics as High Street, Walna Scar Road, and Black Sail Pass. Just be sure you don’t have an aversion to hike-a-bikes…

The Rodeno-Algarbe Loop covers 130 km in two days as a short introduction to the Spanish Lapland scenery and the Montañas Vacías bikepacking route. The route offers great riding through the Pinares del Rodeno Protected Landscape and the Montes Universales, making it a top choice for a group overnighter in the area.

From the hustle and bustle of Paris to the wildlife haven of the Rambouillet Forest, this overnight route follows quiet roads and gravel paths from the southwestern edge of the French capital.

There's gravel to be found just minutes from the center of Scandinavia’s largest city. This overnight bikepacking adventure features 121km of mostly off-road riding and takes you through deep forests and remote singletrack, all within the greater urban area of the city. This is the Wilder Side of Stockholm...

Easily accessed with public transport from Bath, Bristol, and Cardiff, the Black Mountain lies to the west of the Brecons Beacons National Park, in South Wales. This 73 mile, largely un-trafficked and hilly route can be completed in two days, crossing the range twice to form a loop in and out of Aberdare, in the Cynon Valley. Wending through an area pocked with burial mounds, druid stones, caves, and old forts, expect singletrack, drovers' roads, forest roads, and the usual helping of Welsh bogs...

The Bear Bones Bash is a 230km loop through remote and sparsely populated Mid Wales. It promises a true gamut of riding conditions - from steep and winding back lanes, old drovers' tracks, and graded forest tracks, to tufty singletrack, hike-a-bikes and extended bog trots - across the crumpled folds of the beautiful Cambrian Mountains. The route also includes the potential of a night in a candle-lit bothy and a resupply in quirky Machynlleth, home to the world-renowned Centre of Alternative Technology.

Despite its proximity to Manchester and Sheffield, the Peak District National Park offers a surprisingly wild and remote bikepacker's playground, peppered as it is with rocky bridleways, slabby descents, and boggy moorland crossings. In short, it's a wonderful way of escaping either city for a long weekend of honest-to-goodness, old fashioned, multi-day mountain biking...

The Jura Traverse (Grande Traversée du Jura) is a classic French long-distance mountain bike route through a region known for its mountain scenery, quaint villages, and excellent cheese. This linear route runs some 421 kilometers from Mandeure to Culoz on the eastern part of France following the Doubs River and the Swiss border.

As the name suggests, the Purbeck Bimble isn’t a mile-crunching sufferfest. Rather, it's an exploratory ramble that uncovers almost every nook and cranny of Dorset's beguiling Isle of Purbeck. Because despite its modest proportions, this petite parcel of Dorset land is filled with many treasures, be it roller-coasting bridleways, a crumbling castle, quirky place names, spectacular ridge riding, gorgeous swimming coves, or fine local fare.

Easily reached by train from Bristol and Cardiff, the Brecons Bash is a route that connects two of the Brecon Beacons National Park’s classic ‘Killer Loops’, with some honest-to-goodness, Roughstuff-style bike pushing in between. Expect 17th Century drovers’ roads, ribbons of grassy, ridgetop singletrack, and during the summer, bountiful harvests of wild winberries...

The UK's (not so) New Forest makes a great locale for those dipping their toes in gravel riding, or anyone wishing to escape the Big Smoke for the night, and enjoy some forest bathing... bikepacking style. Of course, slow food is a big part of slow travel, so we've woven in local favourite eateries to this beautiful, mellow route too.

The GB DIVIDE route runs the length of Britain, linking its wild places with its rich industrial past. Riders will experience a diverse range of geographies and micro cultures to give them a unique perspective of the rich history that has shaped the British Isles. Bursting with climbs and technical descents, this route will reward those with versatile ‘all-road’ setups and attitudes… expect road, gravel, singletrack, and everything in between.

The Swedish Safari 300 bikepacking route links up some of the best scenery, points of interest, and nature reserves that South Stockholm and North Södermanland have to offer. The five day loop takes you from thick forests to coastal archipelago islands on endless, perfect gravel roads and technical singletrack giving you a glimpse of Swedish life, both past and present.